Northern California

 From our overnight stop with friends, we headed down the Interstate to Grants Pass, where we hopped off the 5 and headed for Pacific Highway 101. We wanted to drive at least part of the 101 on our way through California, and decided to see the Redwood Forest. 

 This place is hauntingly beautiful. We drove through alternating patches of sunlight and fog, and the contrast made the trees more stunning. 

 You can use the approaching car for some perspective on tree size. 

 One of the many ocean look-out points you get in very Northern CA on the 101. 

 We took a break at "The Trees of Mystery." Such a corny name, but they had a few fun things to look at. Ben and I enjoyed relaying the American folklore surrounding Paul Bunyan to our wide-eyed girls while Gordon tried to climb on anything he could. We found out later you can take a gondola through a stand of large redwoods at this place. 

 Another pit stop, just for picture taking. That's our van in the background. 

 Ben was in love with this place. He wanted to keep stopping to take pictures, but we needed to get to Eureka sometime so we could sleep. 

 A hollowed out redwood. 

There was an exit you could take from the 101 and drive (25 mph) through another preserved stand of redwoods. They are right on the edge of the narrow road, so you had better drive slowly. It was so quiet and pretty. On a documentary we happened upon a few weeks later, we learned that some of the biggest redwoods have been dated to the time of Jesus Christ. They rarely succumb to disease or weather, which is why they live so long. There is a species of salamander that lives only in the canopy of these trees. They absorb a significant amount of the water they need through their greenery from the fogs that roll in regularly. They are amazing trees and I'm so glad we took the narrow and windy road to see them!

We stopped at a hotel in Eureka, CA for the night, where we paid double what we paid in Las Vegas, but got a free breakfast. Then it was back in the car for the grand finale!